Bombing "regrettable but inevitable"

ODI held an interesting event today with several Sudanese officials in Khartoum, which I managed to follow a bit of on twitter. 

Dr Mutrif Siddiq, a former Humanitarian Affairs Minister in the Khartoum government stated that bombing of civilians had been "regrettable but inevitable" and taken place during war. Which is interesting when there has been bombing of civilians for over a decade, and that the method of bombing is almost be definition illegal according to international humanitarian law because it is so inaccurate, and so unable to have any kind of targeting on military forces rather than civilians.

And for a bit of light relief, we heard that "Sudan is one of the few countries that is recording progress in development," (awkwardly timed to coincide with recent IMF estimates for a 7.3% reduction in GDP in 2012) and that "no one has been forced to accept a governor, etc from the center" (apart from in, ahem, Blue Nile, where the democratically elected governor was kicked out for being a bit too dark skinned).

The Orwellian double-speak from the Khartoum regime is incredible.

1. 
   hpg_odi Baroness Cox of APG on Sudan asks Khartoum panel: How do you justify aerial bombardments of civilians in the Nuba mountain? #Khartoumcalling 26 Apr 2012 from web
2. 
   LizFordGuardian Pressed on aerial bombing, Siddiq says it's 'regrettable but inevitable' that bombing occured #khartoumcalling #globaldev 26 Apr 2012 from web
3. 
   LizFordGuardian Bombing was necessary as 'sometimes forces take refuge in villages neighbouring our borders' #khartoumcalling #globaldev 26 Apr 2012 from web
4. 
   hpg_odi "It during war" says Dr Mutrif on aerial bombardments #Khartoumcalling #Sudan #SouthSudan 26 Apr 2012 from web
5. 
   LizFordGuardian 'Sudan is one of the few countries that is recording progress in development fields' says Siddiq #khartoumcalling #globaldev 26 Apr 2012 from web
6. 
   hpg_odi Dr Mutrif: "no one has been forced to accept an appointed governer, etc from the center" #Khartoumcalling 26 Apr 2012 from web
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